The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20
FORT MALONE.
Something About lie Capture from a oOmradc Of
the Is9th n. y.


the Is9;h n. u.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: was very
GLAD to read the communication Of Serg't J. d.
Rhodes, Co. Nj, 3lst Ne, concerning the assault
on and capture OF Fort Malone. April 2, l-65
Like him, have sometimes almost doubted
thai ] was there aud took part in that des-
pcrate-and 10 me disastrous fight, the honor
and glory have been claimed by SO many Of
different briEades aud divisions. As reInem-
Der the Affair none Of the First Brigade Sec
ond Division. Ninth Corps, reached Fort Ma
hone until midday. but did take portion Of
the Confederate lane ia their immediate front
which was 10 the let lour right Of Fort Ma
hone, aud aftcrWard helped 20 hold that. as well
Rs the line un their lett. NV own regiment
(I7gth n. 4 fell in about 10 o'clock r. M
April !. marched ont 90 the left Of Fort Davis,
aud captured the cnemy's pickoi-line as far as
10 the front OF Fort Hell, taking and sending
% the rear more prisoners than the regiment
numbered. After holding the captured picket
line until about ? o'clock a. m. April ,, we were
marched lack, aud went 20 the right Of Fort
He'll, where the Second Brigade was masSed.
Just as the gray dawn OF the morning began 10
break we were ordered forward in the follow
ing order: Two companies OF the 3lst Ne. in
advance as pioneers 10 clear away the abatis,
with the brigade in two lines; the 179th n. v,
"a Md. 18th Vt. and lS6th N. Y, in the order
named, from right TO left in the first line; the
9th and 9th N. III. aud the Seth Mass, with the
rest of the 3lst Me-, in the second line.
Our first charge was unsuccessful, and we
were driven back, losing a few prisoners. i
know found myself with one man alone not
more than 20 yards from the nearest embrasure,
with the shot and shell hailing 50 thickly that
i wondered if they We're being thrown out with
a scoop-shovel. On our second charge, Just as
daylight had fully dawned, We got the fort In
this charge Licut.-Col. Il. B. Daily, of the 18th
n. Y, got his death wound. Col. w. NJ. Gregg
was struck in the head by piece of she'll and
disabled and the command Of the regiment
deyolved upon me as Senior Captain, our Major
(Terrill) being on leave. As we were about
midway between the two lines observed the
First Brigade likewise charging some distance
10 our right and 10 the right of Fort He'll, its
line of march nearly parallel 10 ours inclining
a trifle TO the left, but not enough TO strike
Fort Malone
As to what flag was first planted on the fort
] cannot say positively, but think il was that
of the l66th n. Y. | do know that 10 the
Second Brigade Second Division, Ninth Corps,
belongs the credit of the capture, and believe
that in official reports il was so awarded.
also know that in the next number Of the Army
and Nary Journal a lengthy article was pub
lished upon the wonderful charge of the Second
Brigade. After the wounding Of Gen. II. Ii.
Potter the command of the Second Division
devolved upon Brig. Gen. S. c. Griffin, of the
Second Brigade, and the command Of the Sec
ond Brigade fell upon Col. Walter Hartman. OF
] the llth n H.; so the brigade was styled Har-
riman's Brigade in the article.
j have IN my possession a personal letter
from Hon. Il. Il. FentOn, then Governor Of New
! York, transmitting TO me a brevet commission
as Major Of U. 5. volunteers, congratuating
me- and in the name of the State thanking me
for the service and the honor TO the State by
my conduct, for which the commission was
conferred. saying: which j understand from
the War Department is for gallant and meri-
/ torious conduct in command Of your regiment
in the assault upon and capture Of Fort Malone,
! in front OF Petersburg, Va, April 2, 1865" Col
! Hartman was brevetted Major-General and ]
was breyetted Major both for the capture OF
Fort Malone; and it is an absolute fact that
the Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth
Corps, is entitled TO the honor of the capture
q. III. HOLDEN, Captain, Co. ii, 18th N. Y.
Ia East Second street, Duluth, MINI.